Ideas for change

WEF Young Global Leaders share their hopes for a better future

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Embrace tech for accessibility

BIRGIT SKARSTEIN

Recently I experienced the remarkable benefits of a self-driving car, giving me a sneak peek into a transformative future. As a wheelchair user, navigating travel is often fraught with challenges, such as inaccessible public transportation and a lack of suitable rental cars. However, this autonomous vehicle smoothly took me from one appointment to the next, bypassing the usual barriers to mobility. Its advanced technology not only facilitated my travel but also enhanced my own autonomy, ensuring that my paralyzed legs did not impede my busy schedule.

In 2025, we find ourselves at the brink of a transformative era, marked by profound advancements in technology and in artificial intelligence. These developments are set to redefine virtually every facet of human life. An area particularly ripe for transformation is the use of advanced technologies to benefit people living with impairments.

My vision for a better future is a world where Al and emerging technologies are deliberately designed to amplify the abilities of those with disabilities.

Al can be harnessed to create adaptive technologies that go beyond basic accessibility, offering tools that are profoundly integrated into daily life and tailored to individual needs. For instance, Al-driven devices could convert spoken language into sign language in real time, or customize educational environments to fit the unique learning styles and speeds of people with cognitive disabilities. Moreover, smart prosthetics and mobility aids that learn and adapt to their user's patterns could significantly enhance autonomy and mobility, reducing physical limitations.